music

I’m going to start my research back up on Byzantine Hymnography. I contemplated doing a doctorate in the subject for a while, you know, before I got married and decided that going to Princeton was probably not the best idea in the world.

I did a little presentation on it in my graduate classes in music history. There are definitely a scarcity of resources in English about it. The most Western notable sources seemed to be Egon Wellesz and H.J.W. Tillyard, who it seemed through their writings had a skewed sense of the Orthodox Church, which is of course, the tradition that the hymnography is in.

I just looked on my computer for the power point presentation on Byzantine Hymnography and it’s 47 slides long. And my computer is being really slow in loading it.

Here’s my game plan – probably not in the right order –

I have to learn Greek, and probably some other languages.

Find more sources for historical research, preferably ones that aren’t in the vein of Wellesz and/or Tillyard, more that come from within the Orthodox Church.

Be able to read Byzantine Notation

Be able to chant… will take loads of time.

Find more written manuscripts and recordings, not necessarily in western notation

Music is an essential part of a well-rounded person. Americans need to be more robust when it comes to the ability to enjoy life. The education system has the primary responsibility of educating future generations to be meaningful participants in society. Education should be about improving the individual person so they can be successful at life. Students need to be more informed about their own preferences and reasoning so they can take more enjoyment from all aspects of life. I place more emphasis on the means rather than the end product (however, the end will inevitably follow). The principles learned on the journey will be inferred when a student looks at a new challenge.

I will

* enhance students’ love for music
* teach how to enjoy life
* create musical experiences
* help students express themselves without words
* help students to apply all they know to a given concept/area
* help students to individually own music
* connect the students with music
* foster analytical thinking skills
* create independence in individual playing
* help students accomplish their own personal goals

1198 pages of awesomeness!!! I almost screamed when I realized it was only 95 cents!

I also went to the music store to buy some middle school contest solos for my students. So I bought 2 books, and then I bought for myself: Grand Duo Concertant by Weber, Fantasia and Rondo (from the Quintet) by Weber, and Milhaud’s Scaramouche (which I’m hoping to play this semester, if I can find a decent pianist).

I have a student in private lessons who wants to learn jazz. I know very little about how to teach it, so this is my plan: we’re going to study one particular genre at a time, big band swing, right now because that’s generally the majority of pieces that people play in high school. And people know those tunes more rapidly than any other genre in jazz. I’m having my student listen to Glenn Miller right now, and we’re getting the style down on “In the Mood” and “Moonlight Serenade.”

I went out and bought his ‘greatest hits’… the only CD of his music that I could find. And The Ultimate Fake Book, so I’d get some more ideas. I need to train my ears so I can play music without having it in front of me. But hey, I’m good at imitating… if I have music in front of me. I just need to do it by ear. I’m trying to just stay a step in front of my student… day by day.

Music is an essential part of a well-rounded person. Education is not just about giving someone enough information to be successful at a specific job when they graduate from high school or college. It should be about improving the individual person so they can be successful at life. Students need to be more informed about their own preferences and reasoning so they can take more enjoyment from all aspects of life.

I place more emphasis on the means rather than the end product. The principles learned on the journey to the end can apply to other situations. A student will have reached a set skill level and can progress to conquer other obstacles. In this way, the student is focusing on learning rather than on a concert.

I’m listening to Ancient Faith Radio while I’m working on paperwork in the Band GA Office. I have it playing kinda loud. Another student was taping up signs for the beginning of school, and this was the conversation.

The 2008-2009 season is here… or will be soon. I am hereby inviting everyone who reads this blog to the following concerts with the Wichita Wind Ensemble. All Concerts will be at Friends University, unless otherwise posted. The website where you can find all this information is http://www.wichitawindensembles.org. I tried it, but it’s not working, so try back periodically to see if it is.

I think we’re doing an all Gershwin concert, this year. 🙂 Yesssssss………